Celebrated in the Archdiocese of Cracow for the last 30 years, in Poland for the last 20 years, in the whole world for the last 15 years.

When?

On the first Sunday after Easter.

Whose idea was it?

Jesus! He himself wants us to celebrate this Feast.

How do we know this?

From St. Faustina. She wrote it in the ”Diary”:

”During prayer I heard these words within me: I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy.” (Diary, 299)

Who established this Feast?

St. John Paul II established this feast for the whole church on April 30, 2000 – the day of Sr. Faustina’s canonisation.

What for?

Jesus said to Sr. Faustina: ”Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My Mercy, they will perish for all eternity.” (Diary, 965)

What does God promise us?

– Your heart can be as pure and clean as it was on the day of your baptism.

– On this day, God wants to give you everything that you ask of Him with trust and if what you ask of Him will be good for you.

”On that day the very depths of My tender Mercy are open. I pour out a

whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My

Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy

Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.

On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces

flow.” (Diary, 699)

What do we need to do?

Go to meet Jesus in the Confessional so that you may have a pure and clean heart (you may go to Confession a few days before the Feast).

Strive to live in the spirit of trust (which means the fulfillment of His will).

During the day do something good for your neighbor out of love for Jesus.

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday afternoon proceeded with the presentation of the official Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, set to begin December 8.

The bull is the fundamental document for the Holy Year that outlines the overall spirit and intentions for the Jubilee, as well as the spiritual fruits that are hoped for.

It was read by Fr Leonardo Sapienza, Regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, in a ceremony by the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis then moved into the basilica to preside Vespers for Divine Mercy Sunday.

The 28-page bull, titled “Misericordiae Vultus” or “The Face of Mercy” opens with the declaration, “Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy. These words might well sum up the mystery of the Christian faith.”

In the document, Pope Francis says the Holy Year is “dedicated to living out in our daily lives the mercy” which God “constantly extends to all of us.”

He explains the year will begin on December 8 to commemorate both the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, which called the Church to proclaim the Gospel to the world in new ways, bringing God’s mercy to everyone.

After the Holy Door of St Peter’s is open on December 8, the Holy Doors of the other papal basilicas will be opened in subsequent days. As well, as a sign of communion of the whole Church, the pope has requested that every diocese in the world open a similar “Door of Mercy” for the local celebrations of the Jubilee.

The document develops three main themes.

First, Pope Francis elaborates the theological understanding of God’s mercy, explaining the role of mercy in the life of people and of the Church, who are both the beneficiaries and the witnesses to God’s mercy in the world.

“The mercy of God is not an abstract idea, but a concrete reality through which he reveals his love as that of a father or a mother, moved to the very depths out of love for their child,” the Pope writes.

“Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life,” he continues. “The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.”

He recalls that the motto of the Holy Year is “Merciful like the Father.”

“Wherever the Church is present, the mercy of the Father must be evident,” he writes. “Wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy.”

As a second theme, the Pope offers practical ways to live well the Holy Year: go on pilgrimage as an “impetus to conversion”; do not judge or condemn but forgive and give, avoiding gossip, envy and jealousy; have a heart open to the fringes of society and bring consolation, mercy and solidarity to people who live in precarious situations; take up the corporal and spiritual acts of mercy with joy; and observe the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, which encourages prayer and the sacrament of reconciliation, in every diocese during Lent.

He also addresses confessors, encouraging them to be “authentic signs of the Father’s mercy.” And, during Lent of the Holy Year, the Pope says he will send out “Missionaries of Mercy”–priests to whom he will grant “the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See.” They will be “living signs of the Father’s readiness to welcome those in search of his pardon,” he writes.

As a third theme, the Pope issues particular calls for justice and conversion. He asks members of criminal organizations and those involved in corruption to change their lives and to embrace God’s mercy.

He also notes that both Judaism and Islam “consider mercy to be one of God’s most important attributes.” And he expresses “trust that this Jubilee… will foster an encounter” with these and other religions that will “open us to even more fervent dialogue” toward greater knowledge and understanding, “eliminate every form of closed-mindedness and disrespect and drive out every form of violence and discrimination.”

He also recalls the relationship between justice and mercy as “two dimensions of a single reality that…culminates in the fullness of love.”

“God does not deny justice,” he continues. “He rather envelopes it and surpasses it with an even greater event (mercy) in which we experience love as the foundation of true justice.”

The pope concludes the bull with an invocation to Mary, witness to God’s mercy and recalls saint who dedicated their lives to making God’s mercy known, namely the Polish St Faustina Kowalska.

After excerpts from the document were read on Saturday evening, Pope Francis gave a copy of the bull to the cardinal archpriests of each of the four papal basilicas in Rome, as well as to cardinals from the different continents, representing the Church throughout the world.

As with all Jubilees, a plenary indulgence is granted during the Holy Year of Mercy for those who fulfill all of the usual requirements.

The Holy Year will conclude on November 20, 2016, on the feast of Christ the King.

Coming up!

World Youth Day Update

DIOCESAN YOUTH DIRECTORS, COORDINATORS and LEADERS YOUTH MINISTERS in the NATIONAL COUNCILS of FNYO-MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS YOUTH MINISTERS in PARISHES, CAMPUSES, YOUTH GROUPS, etc. Your Excellency: Greetings in our Lord who is Mercy! The 31st World Youth Day will take place this year, on July 26-31, in Krakow, Poland; within the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, this event becomes the Jubilee […]

Check out the episodes of WYD Minute series with information and news about the preparation for WYD Krakow 2016. Share it with your friends! For more episodes, pls. subscribe to: Światowe Dni Młodzieży Kraków 2016 / World Youth Day #krakow2016

Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrated in the Archdiocese of Cracow for the last 30 years, in Poland for the last 20 years, in the whole world for the last 15 years. When? On the first Sunday after Easter. Whose idea was it? Jesus! He himself wants us to celebrate this Feast. How do we know this? From […]

Merchandise

KA-LAKBAY: Directory for Catholic Youth Ministry in the Philippines
The ecclesial document on youth ministry for the Catholic Church in the Philippines, published by the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth for P200.00 only!

Youth Encounter Facilitators’ Handbook
Handbook for facilitators of the “official formation program of the CBCP for the youth”
P200.00 only (available for those who have completed the YE-Facilitators Seminar Workshop)

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